Lock



March 17, 1936. A. J. PACEWICK 2,034,245

LOCK

Filed Nov. 7, 1954 2 snees-sheet 1 m In" fag/azz@ March 17, 1936. v A lPCEWiCK l 2,034,246

LOCK

Filed Nov. 7, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to that general class of devices known as locks,and more particularly to a novel and improved construction of lockmechanismV which may be operated substantially as a permutation lock.

An object of this invention is to provide a lock mechanism of thecharacter described which will be substantially pick-proof, and whichwill be capable of being made up in a large number of differentcombinations, but which at the same time will be readily and easilyoperated by the rightful owner who has knowledge of the particularcombination upon which his lock is operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved lockmechanism of the character described which will consist of a minimum ofparts, which may be readily assembled, and which, therefore, may beproduced at a cost convenient for mass production, but which at the sametime will be highly emcient for carrying out the purposes for which itis designed.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a lock of thecharacter described a novel and improved operating member for actuatingthe same, said member having adjustably mounted stops provided thereonfor co-operating with the lock in setting up the combination thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter morefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details ofthe structure may be made without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I haveillustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof,from an inspection of which when considered in connection with thefollowing description, my invention, its mode of construction, assemblyand operation and many of its advantages should be readily understoodand appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference areemployed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout theseveral gures of the drawings:

Figure 1 isa front elevational view of a face plater of a lock embodyingthe principles of my invention, the same showing the operating memberfor setting up the combination of this lock in operative positionthereof;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational View of said face plate, shaft andoperating member taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l; the locking mechanismbeing shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through my improved operating memberand shaft, taken on line 3 3 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of my improved operating member;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modied form ofoperating member;

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of said modified operating member shown inFig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a View similar to Fig. 1 of a modified form of face plateassociated with the locking mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational View of a face plate shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-I of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a front elevational View of my imimproved key employed withthe modification shown in Fig. '7;

Fig, 12 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line l2|2 of Fig. 11;and

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, showing a a modified form of studor stop employed with said operating member.

Stated generally the invention relates to a permutation lock oftheconstruction disclosed in my copending application led May 4, 1934, andbearing Serial No. 669,283. The present invention relates to merely theimproved means for actuating the locking mechanism and the novel meansfor setting up the combination. As the lock mechanism per se forms nopart oi' the present invention, it is not thought necessary to describedthe same in more detail, and merely to state that it is the sameconstruction as that disclosed in my co-pending application Justmentioned.

Referring to the drawings more specifically by characters of reference,the numeral l 0 designates a shaft which is associated with the lockingmechanism disposed in the casing A for actuating the latch of saidlocking mechanism. The shaft Hl may carry a knob of conventionalconstruction when used as a house door lock, or the same may beassociated with an automobile handle when used as an` automobile doorlock. Assoclated with the looking mechanism and stops I3, I4 and I5,which stops will co-operate with my Vimproved operating member generallydesignated by the reference character I6 for setting up the combinationof the lock.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, there are provided on theouter face of the face plate II the three stops I3, I4 and I5, two` ofsaid lstops I3 and I4 are threaded into the body of the face plate, asshownin Fig. 2, and the third Vof said stops being arranged so as topermit Ypassage past thesame when the operating member kIIi is moved inone direction, but will prevent passage past the same when the key ismoved Y. in the opposite direction. As shown in Figs. l and 2, the stopI5 is provided at one end with a Y combination in co-operation with theface plateV flexible metal member I1, the Vopposite end of which isrigidly secured to the underside of the face plate YII Vbymeans of thescrews I8,vor in some other suitable and well known manner. A suitableopening I9 is provided in the face plate II through which said stop I5extends. The upper edge of the stop I5 is disposed above the outersurface of the face plate II, as shown in Fig. 2, and is provided with abeveled face 20, whereby saidstop will permit movement past the same ina counter-clockwise direction, but will prevent movement past the samein a clockwise direction.

My improved operating member designated by the reference character I6forsetting up the comprises a member shaped substantially as that shownin Fig. 4, said member having ashank portion 2| which is adapted toextend through a slot provided therefor 'in the enlarged portion 0n theoutside of the shaft I0, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 Vand 3 said shank beingprovided with a recess 22 within which Ais adapted to be received, when'said member'is in operative position within the shaft, a ballmember 23,said ball member being y disposed within a recess cut out in the end ofthe shaftjsaid recess housing the coil spring 24, and being closed bymeans of a plug 25,`said spring being effective for normally urging saidball into the recess 22, asY 'shown' in Fig. `3. By reason of thisarrangement, when the operating key` I6 is inserted within the slot, thesame will be held in place therein, thereby eliminating the danger ofthe operating member becoming disassociated from the shaft.

The body portion of the operating member I6 is provided, as shown VinFig. 4, with three arcuate grooves 26, 2'I and 28. Eachof said groovesis arranged on the circumference of a circle, Athe radius of whichcorresponds to'the radius'of the circumference of the circle upon whichthe stops E3, I4 and I5, respectively, are arranged. Thus the radius ofthe groove 26 will be the same as'the radius of the circle Within whichthe stop I3 is disposed, the" radius ofthe groove 27 will be the same asthat of the circumference upon` which the stop I5 is disposed, and theradiusA of the groove 28 will be the same'as that of the circumferenceupon'which the stop I4 is disposed. Each of said grooves Vis providedwith spaced depressed portions 29 on the underside thereof, and

each of said grooves has mounted therein a stud the desired recess 29along said groove.

36, said studs comprising a shank 3| `which extends within the grooveand is adapted to ride therein, said shank having a head 32 at one endthereof and an enlarged portion 33 provided at the opposite end thereof,said portion 33 being of a size and shape adapted for disposition withinthe depression 29 provided on therunderside of the operating member I 6.Q

Surrounding said shank on the outer face of the operating member, asshown in Fig. 3, is a washer 34, and surrounding said Yshank adjacentthe head 32 is a coil spring 35, said spring being disposed between thehead 32 and the washer 34 and is adapted to normally urge said enlargedportion 33 into the` recess 29 opposite which it may be disposed. Thus,Vby pressing on the head 32, the studs may be moved along theirrespective grooves to bring the same into engagement with BY varying theposition of the stud in its respective groove, it will be readilyapparent Ythat the particular combination of the llock maybe varied.Thus a large number of combinations may be obtainedwith a particularkey. Y Y

Once the studs have been set for a particular combination, in order toset up the combination and actuate the lock, it is only necessary to insert the operating member within the shaft, as shown in Fig. 1, and to'rotate the operating member first in a clockwise direction until thestud disposed in the groove 26 is brought into engagement with the stopI3. then moved in the opposite direction until the stud dispo-sed withinthe groove 28 is brought into engagement with the stop I4. Byreason ofthe yieldable mounting provided for the stop I5, it will be readilyapparent that the stud disposed The operating member is withinrthegroove 29 will readily pass over said From the above'it 'should bereadily apparentV that I have provided a novel and highly simplifiedmechanism for actuating permutationY locks, said mechanism including anoperating member which may be conveniently carried in the pocket, and byvarying the positions of the studs on the operating member, the same maynot be employedv by unauthorized persons to operate the lockV with'whichthe operating member is to cooperate in setting up the combination oftheparticular lock. Y

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the construction issubstantially as thatV already described with reference tothe previousfigures with the exception that the operating member may beV hinged, asshown at 36, so that the shank portion Y -v In the embodimentillustrated in Figs. 7 to 13,V

inclusive, a four-way combination lock is shown, and in this embodiment,there is provided a face plate 40 on the outer face of which arearranged the circumferentially disposed stops 4|, 42, 43 and 44. Thestops 4l and 42 .are rigidly secured to the face plate whereas the stops43 and 44 are yieldingly disposed on said face plate. The said stops aremounted on a fleXible metal member 45, one end of which is rigidlysecured to the underside of the face plate by means of the rivets 46, orin some other suitable and well known manner.

As shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, a spacing member or block 47 isprovided between the member 45 and face plate 40 so as to space theportion of the body 45 from the underside of the face plate 4Q. Thestops 43 and 44 are mounted on said member 45 and lare disposed so as toextend through the openings 48 and 49, respectively, with their upperedges disposed above the outer surface of the fac-e plate 40, as shownin Fig. 9. The stop is provided with a beveled face 50 so as to permitpassage thereby when the operating member l is moved in acounter-clockwise direction, and to prevent passage thereby in theopposite direction. The stop member 44 is provided with a beveled face52 arranged in such a marmer as to permit passage thereby in clockwisedirection only.

Associated with the face plate 40 is a shaft 53 which extends throughthe face plate and which is provided with the enlarged portion 54through which extends a transverse slot within which the shank 55 of theoperating member 5l is received. The shank 55 is provided with adepression 56 which co-operates with the ball member 51, coil spring 5tand plug 53 for detachably holding the operating member and shaft inoperative assembled position.

The shaft 53 has also associated therewith a member 60 which is providedwith a shank 5I re ceived in a radial slot 62 provided therefor in theshaft 53, said member G being disposed when in assembled position alongthe under face of the face plate 4i), as shown in Fig. 8. Said member teis shaped substantially as shown in Fig. 8 and has the beveled sideedges 63 for a purpose to be presently more fully described.

The operating member 5l is provided along its body with a plurality ofrows of openings B4, 65,

l 55 and 5l', said openings being arranged along the circumferences oicircles, the radii of which correspond to the radii of thecircumferences of the circles along which the stops 4I, 42, 43 and 44are arranged. Said openings 64, 65,

V- 65 and 57 `are adapted to receive therein suitable studs, which studswill co-operate with their respective stops for setting up thecombination of the lock. rIlhus, as shown in Fig. 12, it is providedwith a stud 68, which stud comprises a headed member 59 having aninternally threaded recess 'EB within which is received in threadedengagement the screw member 'l' I. 'Ihus it will be noted that the stud68 may be readily removed from and inserted into the various openingsprovided on the operating member 5|, and by arranging said studs incertain predetermined arrangements, various combinations may be obtainedfor the locking mechanism. A further modified form of stud is shown at'I2 in Fig. 13, said stud comprising a headed screw, the shank of whichis threaded into the opening which is also threaded.

In operation of the 'embodiment disclosed in Figs. 7 to 13, theoperating member 5i is inserted within the slot of the shaft 53 with thestuds 68 arranged in said operating member in their proper position forsetting up the combination of the lock. The operating member is thenmoved in a clockwise direction to bring the stud 68 in the row 64against the stop 4l. The operating member is then moved in acounter-clockwise direction for the purpose of bringing the stud 63 inthe row 65 against the stop 42. In this latter movement it will be notedthat the stud in row 65 will readily pass over the stop 43 by reason ofits inclined face 50, but the stud in ro-w 61 would not pass over thestop 44 unless some means are provided for moving said stop out of theway of said stud.

The means provided include the member 60 which is adapted to engage thespring member 45 to depress the same so as tobring the stud 44 below thelevel of the outer surface of the face plate 4d to permit the said studto pass this point until brought against the stop 42. This latter actionwill be brought about by the member 64 engaging within the depressedportion 'i3 provided in the member 45, so that as the shaft 53 is -rotated, it will carry with it the member de which will engage within thedepressed portion 'i3 of the member 45 and move the free end of saidmember downwardly a sufficient distance to bring the stop 44 out of theway of the stud E58 arranged in row 61. By the time the said stud ispast that point, the member 60 will have moved a suilicient distance tobecome disengaged from the member 45, thus permitting said member toassume its normal position which is the position shown in Fig. 9.

After the operating member has been rotated in the counter-clockwisedirection to the position where the stud 68 in row 65 has been broughtagainst the stop 42, the operating member is then rotated in theopposite direction, in which direction it will be noted the s'tud 53 inrow tl will readily pass over the stop 44 by reason of the inclined face52 provided on said stop until the stud in row 56 is brought against thestop 43. During this latter movement it will be noted that the member 55will ride on the underside of the member 45, as shown in Fig. 9, andwill remain in that position so that after the stud 43 has been engaged,the rotation of the operating member in a counter-clockwise direction tobring the stud @8in row 57 to strike against the stop 44, member Eilwill be inoperative for depressing the member 45 as during this lastmovement said member 60 will ride on the outside of said member 45. Inthis manner the movement ci the operating member will have beencompleted for setting up the combination of the locking mechanism.

Particular attention is direct-ed to the novel mechanism for permittingthe operating member to travel from stop 4l to stop 42 and then back tostop 43 past stop 44 and then back again to stop 44. By providing thisfour-way combination it will be evident that a much larger number ofcombinations may be had with the same operating member in the samelocking mechanism, the change in combination being brought about bysimply changing the position of the studs in their respective rows. i

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction, assembly andoperation, and many of its advantages, should be readily understood fromthe foregoing without further description, and should also be manifestthat while preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed for illustrative purposes, the structural details arenevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of myinvention as pointed out in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. In a permutation lock, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of stopsarranged circumferentially around said shaft at least one of said stopsbeing yieldably mounted for permitting-movement past the same in onedirection only, a member detachably connected With said shaft forrotation therewith, and adjustable means carried by said member to bebrought into selective contact With the said stops for setting up thecombination of the lock.

2. In a permutation lock, a rotatable shaft, an

operating member detachably connected to said shaft for rotationtherewith, a dial surrounding said shaft having a plurality ofcircumferentially arranged stops disposed in the path of travel of saidoperating member, circumferentially arranged means carried by saidoperating member, l

said means beinU adapted to be brought into seleotive contact with saidstops for setting up the conmination of the lock, at least one of saidstops being yieldably mounted for permittingV movement past the same inone direction only.

3. In a permutation lock, a rotatable controlling member, indicatingmeans removably associated with said member, and adapted for rotationtherewith,.a xed dial surrounding said controlling member and itsassociated indicating means, a plurality of stops arranged on said dialand disposed in position when said indicating means is in operativerelation With said controlling'member to be in the path of travel ofsaid indicating means, at least one of said stops being yieldablymounted for permitting movement past the same in one direction only,whereby the latter may be brought into successive contact With saidstops, and means provided on said indicating means for adjustablysupporting a plurality of studs in a plurality of positions thereon,said stops and studs co-operating With each other for setting up thecombination of the lock.

4, In a permutation lock, a rotatable shaft, a pointer removablyattached to said shaft, said pointer having a plurality ofcircumferentially arranged studs adjustably mounted thereon, a fixeddial having a plurality of circumferentially arranged stops Ydisposed inposition for limiting the rotary movement of said pointer, at least oneof said stops being yieldably mounted for permitting movement of thepointer past the same in one direction only, said stops and pointercooperating with each other for setting up the combody portion, saidbody portion having a plurality of arcuate grooves arranged therein, andadjustable studs disposed within said grooves.

6. In a permutation lock, a removable member for setting upthe'combination of said lock, said member including a shank portion anda body v portion, said body portion having a plurality of rovvs ofopenings arranged along circumferences of circles provided therein, andremovable studs disposed Within said openings.

7. In a permutation lock, a plate member, and a shaft rotatably mountedtherein, a plurality of circumferentially arranged stops provided onsaid plate member, each one of which is arranged on the circumference ofa circle, the radius of which diners from that of the radii of thecircles upon which the other stops are arranged, at least one of saidstops being yieldably mounted for permitting movement past the same inone directionV only, and an operating member detachably associated withsaid shaft and having means provided Y thereon for col-'operating withsaid stops Vfor setting up the combination of the lock.

8. In a permutation lock, a plate member and a shaft associatedtherewith and arranged for relative movement thereto, Vsaid plate memberhaving a plurality of stops provided thereon and arranged alongcircumferences of circles of different radii, at least one of said stopsbeing yieldably mounted for permitting movement past the same in onedirection only, and a removable operating member associated with saidshaft having circumferentially arranged studsl for co-opera'ting withsaid stops for setting up the combination of the lock. Y

9. In a permutation lock, the combination with a piate havingcircumferentially arranged stops provided thereon, at leastY one of saidstops being yieldably mounted for permitting movement past the same inone direction only, a shaft rotatably mounted in said plate and a memberassociated with said shaft having circumferentially arranged.

adjustable studs provided thereon for co-operating with said stops toset up the combination of the lock. Y

l0. In a permutation lock, a plate member having a plurality ofcircumferentially arranged stops provided thereon, at least one of saidstops being yieldably mounted for permitting movement past the same inone direction only, and a removable operating member, said plate memberand operating member being arranged for movement relative to each other,and means provided on said operating member for selective engagement bysaid stops for setting up the combination of the lock.

ALBERT J. PACEWICK.

